Barry Dransfield, a pioneering English folk fiddler and multi-instrumentalist who helped shape the late-1960s folk revival, has died at the age of 79. He was known for his distinctive off-the-chest fiddle playing, which allowed him to sing while performing.
Early career with brother Robin
Dransfield began working as a duo with his elder brother Robin in 1969, quickly gaining renown on the folk-club circuit. He taught himself folk fiddle by ear, never learning to read music. His playing style, with the fiddle held off the chest rather than on the shoulder, made it easier to sing while playing.
Their first LP of traditional songs, released in 1970 on Trailer Records, won Melody Maker's folk album of the year. A follow-up album in 1971 continued their success. The duo signed a contract with US Warner Brothers, and a best-of LP was prepared, but Barry turned down the offer, leading to the duo's split.
Solo work and notable collaborations
Barry embarked on a solo career, releasing a now-rare solo LP for Polydor Records in 1972. He contributed to two historic albums of the era: Shirley Collins and the Albion Country Band's No Roses (1971), playing lead fiddle on The Murder of Maria Marten, and Morris On (1972), a folk-rock compilation of morris dance tunes, where he played fiddle and guitar and sang a version of The Cuckoo's Nest.
Born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, to Mary (née Maltby) and Arthur Dransfield, an office clerk, Barry attended Woodlands community primary school and Harrogate grammar school. He began performing in his teens on mandolin in a bluegrass group with Robin, later working as a luthier in London while his performing career took off.
Later career and personal life
The brothers reunited in the late 1970s for two more LPs and occasional gigs, before both moved into string instrument repair and dealerships—Barry in Hastings, Robin in Cornwall. In 1979, Barry met his partner, Christine Goldschmidt, at a gig in the Queens pub in Crouch End, north London.
Barry was cast as The Blind Fiddler in the 1984 film The Bounty, starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. He also contributed to TV, theatre, and film scores. Later, he released three more solo records featuring original compositions, folk songs, and music-hall standards. He is possibly the only folk revival luminary to record both a Procol Harum cover and a Handel aria, singing and playing guitar against two cello and four violin overdubs.
After Hastings, he and Christine moved to Brittany in 2007, returning to the UK and settling in Barnstaple, North Devon, in 2016. He is survived by Christine and his brother Robin.
